BREWERIES

The government did, to its credit, try to open up consumer choice, sadly the accountants that the large breweries employ are far too tricksy. The thinking goes as follows:-

Government...Let's increase consumer choice by putting a ceiling on the number of pubs breweries can own and that are tied to their products. When the big breweries sell them off new owners can sell any beer they want from any brewery.

Big Breweries.. Mmmmm..tricky, but we could sell off the excess tied estate to a company that specialises in pubs. Then, and here's the clever part, we do a deal with that company to sell them our beer at a hefty discount. That way smaller breweries will find it difficult to compete. So not only do we keep selling our beer, but we get rid of the costly burden of tied houses....Hows about that then!

Despite the efforts of the big boys more small breweries open up every year, admittedly some don't succeed but the ones that do gather a loyal following as people become aware of the pleasures of drinking craft brewed beers rather than the often bland offerings of the large conglomerates.

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